By the year 2025, nearly 75 percent of all Americans are expected to live in coastal counties.
The Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change projects a rise in sea levels of nearly 2 feet over the next 100 years.
Texas coastal habitats at risk from significant sea level rise include:
244,416 acres of forest
777,280 acres of wetlands
180,736 acres of agricultural
lands
Extreme weather events (storms, droughts and floods) will become more frequent affecting coastal habitats, water supplies and flows in rivers and into estuaries.
Texas has lost more than half of its original 1.2 million acres of
wetlands.
Of the original 6 million acres of Coastal Tallgrass Prairie, only
1% still exists; and
60% of the original 16 million acres of Texas bottomland and
riparian forest has been lost.
Facing These Challenges
Together
The Texas Coastal Program is
working with partners to:
Restore ecological communities
Acquire and protect habitats
Enhance existing natural
resources
Promote and support education and outreach
Develop stakeholder driven
approaches to conservation
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with
others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and
their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
All images Credit to and Courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service unless specified otherwise.
Last updated:
October 30, 2012
